Wading through a hot, smelly, mind-numbingly traffic-infested day, in a city that’s consistently been placed at or near the top of the list of the world’s most unliveable places, Dhaka wouldn’t strike one as anyone’s idea of paradise. Look closely enough, though and you’ll find it hiding in plain sight; a wonderland for the fashion-obsessed. Let us show you:
I don’t want much; I just want more
First up, the sheer variety of sartorial options is mind-boggling. Whether you’re a cotton sari-glass-bangles type of traditional femme, or an edgy urbanite in ankle booties and crop tops, or modest Muslima in flowing gowns and delicate hijabs, you’ll find your look somewhere in the city. The same is true for the guys; you can go basic in tees and jeans, preen in panjabis, or mix it up. From Mughal-inspired achkans to the preppy waistcoat and newsboy cap look, anything and everything goes, and is available, if you just have the patience to hunt for it. And moreover, other than practical considerations involving the weather, and a fair bit of conservatism in public spheres, you’re not exactly bound by a dress code, so you can experiment fairly freely.
I’m gonna pop some tags
One word: Doja. Polish up your bargaining skills, and you could come away with a whole new wardrobe, and it’d probably cost you less than a single pair of jeans abroad. We make clothes for the rest of the world, so that has to have some perks. If you’re more conscientious about not buying fast fashion, there are plenty of homegrown artisan boutiques with a strong emphasis on fair trade which may be pricier than your Elephant Road buys, of course, but still be relatively affordable, if you’re comparing with prices of similar products abroad.
The way you make me feel
Can we just stop to talk about our gorgeous, eco-friendly fabrics? From the soft kiss of Rajshahi silk, to unbeatable chic of jute cotton, to the incomparable elegance of jamdani and muslin, the stuff we use to make clothes is to die for. And when you add to that the earthy accessories of leather, wood, brass, and conch shells, you’re talking about a veritable treasure trove of materials just waiting to be transformed to objets d’ art.
Your best friend
No one is a better friend to the style conscious than a good tailor, and Dhaka is teeming with them, at amazingly affordable prices. It’s a bit like playing the dating game, but when you’ve found one that speaks your special style language, knows how to mold the fabric to your shape, you’ve found a friend for life. And this is how you can take those Bongo Bazar steals, have a few minor alterations done, and come out looking red carpet ready at less than a fraction of the cost of a designer splurge.
Always ready to party
We have a saying “Baro mash e tero parbon” (13 festivals for 12 months), which means, when you’re in D-City, you’re never all dressed up with nowhere to go. There’s always an occasion, always something happening, that will require, nay demand that you put your fabulous style on display. The whole city is your runway, just waiting for you to own it.
